Program Description

The Garden to Market Specialist Technical Diploma is designed for anyone interested in market gardening and fruit and vegetable production in a variety of agricultural settings. Learners will develop skills to start their own enterprises growing produce and other agriculture products to sell. Hands-on and classroom trainings are offered in both a hoop house and greenhouse lab setting.

Please note: This program is subject to the Clock-to-Credit Hour Conversion and some courses listed will not be eligible for full financial aid funding based on the program’s credit hours.

Found in These Career Fields:

Approximate Program Cost

$5,645
Tuition & Fees: $5,379
Books & Supplies: $266

Starting Salary

$15,082–$19,458
Average, according to Lightcast

Financial Aid

Available
Total financial aid offered may not exceed the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA).
An aerial view of NTC's Wausau Campus main entrance on a sunny summer day. Trees and greenery frame the spacious side walks that lead up to the light-brown brick building.

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Availability

Courses for this program may be available at a variety of campus locations through multiple modes of delivery if you meet the admission requirements and prerequisites.

100%
at Wausau

* Campus and online availability of courses and programs may be subject to change.

Outcomes

Graduates will be able to…

  • Develop a small business operational plan
  • Demonstrate best management practices in developing a controlled plant environment
  • Prescribe effective pest management systems
  • Determine how to grow and manage a variety of garden plants

Careers

Some of the potential careers graduates can pursue are:

  • Urban Farmer
  • Vineyard Worker
  • Garden Center Worker
  • Hydroponics Specialist
  • Integrated Pest Management Specialist
  • Plant Technician
  • Groundskeeper
  • Orchard Worker
  • Vegetable Grower
  • Farm Laborer
  • Nursery Worker
  • Floriculturist
  • Market Gardener
  • Plant Propagation Specialist
  • Horticulturalist
  • Greenhouse Grower

Courses

The Garden to Market Specialist Technical Diploma is a 36 Credit program. The following is a typical semester breakdown of the courses within the program.

First Term

College 101 1.00
Agricultural Accounting 2.00
Introduction To Soils 2.00
Orientation To The Horticulture Industry 1.00
Designing And Timing Your Garden 2.00
Greenhouse Operation and Design 1.00
Fruit Crop Production 2.00
Agriculture Equipment Safety 2.00

Second Term

Container Gardening 1.00
Greenhouse Production 2.00
Plant Science Basics 3.00
Merchandising Produce Applications 2.00
Farm Business Management 3.00
Pesticide/Fertilizer Applications 2.00
Commercial Vegetable Cropping Systems 2.00

Third Term

Hydroponics 2.00
Pest and Disease Management 3.00
Garden Production Basics 2.00
Weed Identification 1.00

Credit for Prior Learning Available

View All Detailed Course Information

Cost of Attendance

2024–2025 Estimated Academic Year Budgeted Cost of Attendance

The estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) is a budget that includes categories of expenses that a student can expect to incur while attending college. The COA does not reflect actual charges. It is an average based on the estimated living costs typical of our region. In determining the cost of attendance, Northcentral Technical College uses the budget established by the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Financial Aid Budget Work Group. This budget is used to determine financial need for all students who apply for financial aid. A student's cost of attendance is composed of all educational expenses that can be included for financial aid purposes that a student may accrue while pursuing their education for the year (or semester, if enrolled less than a year). A student's financial aid cannot exceed their cost of attendance. Schools are required to provide a fuller picture of what it may cost students to pursue their degree, not just what they will owe in tuition/fees and books/supplies.

Please Note: this COA budget estimate assumes full-time attendance for two semesters — Fall 2024 and Spring 2025.
Expenses Student Living With Parents (Home) Student Living on Own (Other)
Full-time Tuition (based on a total of 30 credits, 15 credits fall and 15 credits spring)
In-State Tuition & Fees
$4,844*
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$7,127*
In-State Tuition & Fees
$4,844*
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$7,127*
Living Expenses (Housing & Food) $3,008 $9,147
Books / Supplies $1,465 $1,465
Transportation $4,017 $4,017
Personal Expenses $3,608 $3,608
Loan Fees $85 $85
Total Estimated Cost Of Attendance
In-State
$17,027
Out-of-State
$19,310
In-State
$23,166
Out-of-State
$25,449

* Tuition listed is based on approved rates for the 2024–2025 academic year. Rates are approved each March by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board and estimated budgets are updated at that time.

For the 2024–2025 academic year, the Wisconsin Resident tuition rate is $149.50 per credit and Out-of-State resident tuition is $224.25 per credit.

For the 2024–2025 academic year, Student Fees include: a minimum $5.00 material fee and a $13.15 per credit activity fee. A $4.00 per semester insurance fee will be assessed to students taking at least one course which has a scheduled session on campus.

Students awarded Federal Direct Loan(s) also have an average of the mandatory loan fees automatically added to their COA.

Students with disability-related expenses may contact the Financial Aid Office to have their additional expenses considered. Disability-related expenses include but are not limited to: personal assistance, equipment, and supplies. The Financial Aid Office may potentially include disability expenses in the COA that are not provided by other assisting agencies.

NTC also offers a Net Price Calculator to help estimate costs.

For more information regarding billed tuition and fees visit https://www.ntc.edu/admissions/tuition-fees

We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about how the financial aid process works. Please feel free to reach out for more information.

NTC Financial Aid Office

715.803.1647
financialaid@ntc.edu

Additional Information

Clock-to-Credit Hour Conversion

This program is subject to the Clock-to-Credit Hour Conversion and some courses listed will not be eligible for full financial aid funding based on the program’s credit hours.

TermCourseCredit HoursFinancial Aid Credit Hours
1COLLEGE 10111
1AGRICULTURAL ACCOUNTING21.8
1INTRODUCTION TO SOILS22
1ORIENTATION TO THE HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY11
1DESIGNING & TIMING YOUR GARDEN22
1GREENHOUSE OPERATIONA AND DESIGN11
1FRUIT CROP PRODUCTION22
1AGRICULTURE EQUIPMENT SAFETY22
2CONTAINER GARDENING11
2GREENHOUSE PRODUCTION22
2PLANT SCIENCE BASICS33
2MERCHANDISING PRODUCE APPLICATIONS22
2FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT33
2PESTICIDE/FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS22
2COMMERICAL VETETABLE CROPPING SYSTEMS22
3HYDROPONICS22
3PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT33
3GARDEN PRODUCTION BASICS22
3WEED IDENTIFICATION11

For more information, please refer to our Financial Aid Policies.

Admissions Process

Our application process takes just a few minutes to complete, but we want to make sure you have the things you’ll need on hand to complete the application. We’re here to help if you have any questions while submitting your application.

Before you apply, you should know

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What’s Next?

We’ll review your application and let you know if we need anything else. If you’re all set, your acceptance letter will be emailed to you.